Every second Friday of the month, a dedicated group gathers in Tokyo. In February, they stood near the industry ministry’s annex, just steps away from blooming plum trees in Hibiya Park. This group, Fridays for Future, includes passionate individuals of all ages proudly displaying a sign that reads: “The Climate Crisis is a matter of life and death!” They aim to amplify the voices of young people in Japan regarding climate change.
“We can’t afford to wait any longer for climate action,” says Ayako Kawasaki, a fresh college graduate and activist. “Getting more youth involved is a must.” Despite their intentions, they face significant challenges. Recently, the Japanese government approved energy and emissions plans that experts criticize as too weak to meet the global goal of keeping temperatures from rising above 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.
Japan is already feeling the effects of climate change. Record-high temperatures and powerful typhoons are now common. A survey revealed that 87% of Japanese youth feel it’s either “very” or “somewhat” important to address climate change.
However, indifference looms large. While other countries have seen massive youth-led climate protests, gatherings in Japan often attract fewer than 100 participants. Alarmingly, over 10% of Japanese youth in a survey admitted they don’t care about climate issues. Another survey showed that more than a third of 17- to 19-year-olds either didn’t understand or didn’t believe in the link between greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
“Awareness of climate change is still quite limited among young people in Japan,” says Kelvin Tang, a researcher at the University of Tokyo. He adds that few youths show a willingness to engage in political or activist efforts regarding climate issues.
Kawasaki became involved with Fridays for Future four years ago. A class on climate change reignited her interest, making her realize that the issues she learned about in school remain unresolved. In addition to her activism, she collaborates with various NGOs and works on community initiatives like the Watashi no Mirai group, which connects youth with environmental organizations. Currently, she is part of a lawsuit against thermal power companies for failing to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
“Our government continues to promote nuclear energy as a solution, which is slow and costly,” she says. “It often feels like they pretend to listen to us, but our concerns go unheard.”
Despite hurdles, Kawasaki has seen some success. Events like a collaboration with pro-Palestinian activists in Tokyo brought renewed energy. She’s enthusiastic about a symposium scheduled in Kyoto to exchange ideas with activists from Taiwan and South Korea, who have leading climate lawsuits in their countries. Another group, Climate Youth Japan (CYJ), emphasizes the importance of youth voices in climate discussions and participates directly in policy sessions.
Yuki Wada from CYJ notes that young people lack recognition as important stakeholders in Japanese society, unlike in Europe, where youth participation is more valued. Nevertheless, there are bright young minds like Mutsumi Kurobe, involved in innovative environmental art projects, and foreigners like Katrin Miyazawa, who are making their mark in Japan’s climate movement.
Historically, Japanese youth protests peaked around a decade ago with a national outcry against security legislation permitting military engagement. The group SEALDs gathered tens of thousands, using media effectively to convey the youth’s growing political interest. Shunichiro Kobayashi, a former member, says recent trends show a growing apathy, especially in countries like Japan and the U.S., where transformative movements have been scarce in decades.
Educational gaps are partly to blame. Research reveals many misconceptions among students regarding climate change, such as confusing greenhouse gas emissions with ozone layer depletion. Tang urges the need for comprehensive climate education in Japan’s curriculum to fill these gaps.
“Many demonstrations rely on foreign messaging, which doesn’t resonate locally,” Kawasaki explains, stressing the need to frame climate change as a uniquely Japanese issue rather than a global one. Activists want to highlight how climate change directly impacts Japan and its communities.
Reflecting on past movements, Kobayashi critiques SEALDs for lacking organizational structure, which hindered their long-term impact. Today’s youth groups face similar challenges, often focused on personal actions like reducing electricity use rather than pushing for political change.
Activists recognize the importance of collaboration for progress. Kawasaki emphasizes that joint efforts with seasoned activists can provide essential lessons. As she transitions to work with an anti-nuclear nonprofit, she looks forward to exploring new partnerships.
For CYJ, education is key to fostering engagement. Wada highlights impactful local workshops that teach children about climate change. Rather than large demonstrations, they focus on constructive dialogues with policymakers, aiming to establish a Japanese-style climate movement.
The road ahead for climate activists may be long, and there have been struggles with burnout. Kurobe expressed difficulty in feeling that her efforts were making a significant difference. “By my second college year, I was exhausted,” she said. Young climate activists are still searching for that much-needed spark to invigorate their cause. As slow government action continues, meaningful change might have to emerge from grassroots movements led by passionate individuals like Kawasaki and her peers.
“It’s not just about pushing for climate measures,” she sums up. “We must reclaim democracy, changing our system so our voices truly matter.”
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Source linkclimate change, Fridays for Future, Japan Youth Council, Climate Youth Japan, emissions
